Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar serious to ban rave parties

Goa’s Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar has claimed that imposters were “misusing” his name with the police to allow rave parties to continue till early hours in the Anjuna-Vagator beach belt.

“It has come to my notice that certain Individuals from Siolim constituency and Vagator area are misusing my name and have been calling up police not to act on those holding music and rave parties. I have given a final warning to the police now and would be meeting the Chief Minister on this matter,” Palienkar posted on Facebook on Monday.

“Once again, I have just called and instructed the police to stop these late night parties. In spite of several warnings and reminders, late night music goes on till 3 to 4 in the morning, which is creating problems not only for old, aged citizens, but also to the student community who are answering their Board exams,” he said.

Speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat, the minister said that tourism in Goa was more than just rave parties and drugs and that efforts needed to be made to cut down on such activities.

“We have to protect our culture and maintain peace in Goa. Rave parties need to be stopped,” he added.

Goa is one of the most popular beach and night-life tourism destinations in the country, which attracts nearly four million tourists.

But coastal fringes of the state, which is home to popular beach villages like Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim and Arambol are also havens for drug-laced rave parties.